MS: Piracy is a cat and mouse game, we didn't ban 1 million people

[Zeus]

Speaking in a new interview, Marc Whitten of Xbox LIVE has commented that the banning of modified 360's is a cat and mouse game. Moreover he denoted that MS never released the number of 360's banned and it wasn't 1 million people as reported.

<blockquote>VB: There were stories that talked about how Microsoft knocked out a lot of modders from Xbox Live. I recall that early on there were maybe 1 or 2 percent of the people who were using modded machines. Why would there be such a large number now? One report said it was a million modders knocked out.

MW: It’s a cat and mouse game. These were people that were pirating software. We try to keep sanctity of life from a safety and anti-cheating perspective and we protect our partners. We didn’t release the number. I cannot explain to you why people would think it was a million people. It wasn’t a million people. Check the veracity of that claim. It was one news source. I think we do a really good job understanding what people are doing on the system. That applies to intellectual property (piracy) and how we treat the community in terms of harassment. We are committed to making it better and better.</blockquote>

News Source: <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2009/11/19/microsofts-xbox-live-chief-on-banning-modders-and-browsing-facebook-photos-on-tv/" target="_blank">VB</a>

[phallius]

Like I said, I think M$ has truly jumped the shark. There are literally no redeeming qualities to M$,,,,,none. I am still confused (and amused) as to why people keep buying their faulty, costly crapp. That part really has me boggled. I don't hack so a PS3 is just fine for me. After going through 4 360's (under warranty, just one switched out 3 times!) I cannot do business with these morons. The biggest, funniest thing is a little law called "loss of use." Nobody takes advantage of it. If we did, we'd be getting brand new, 360's and not refurbished ones. You can go to small claims to do it too. I did it to Sony and they sent me a brand new Bravia. I want to do it to M$ but my statute is out.

[xsam34]

I don't get this. First MS says we did now we didn't. What ever all i know that millions more 360 got the Red Lights of Deaths so @#%^ MS!! A system that is great and garbage at the same time.

[danight]

I don't hack so a PS3 is just fine for me.

Yeah... i bet alot of ps3 users say the same stuff, since they dont have a way to hack the ps3. But if there was sony would be doing the same crap if not worse.

Funny how ps3 users claim the high road on a modding forums but yet most have admitted to owning modded 360s. Some of the biggest ps3 fanboys this gen that have posted here have had modded 360. But yet blasted microsoft for banning them off live.

No major company cares if 1 person whines and cries they wont do business with them anymore. I didnt buy mw2 and i promise no one at IW gave a crap.


Back on topic though.... Of course microsoft is not gonna confirm exactly how many users where banned. That helps lawsuits.
Of course microsoft isnt gonna say how the caught people as that would help modders get around it.

People act like sony is different. Thats just dumb as sony will rip people off and go after modders even harder. Think all those little firmware updates where to add features every week?
Sony TVs are a perfect sign of how sony rips people off. Charge twice as much and get less than features than a samsung. Same thing with vio`s..over priced like all sony products.

They are right... its cat and mouse and right now the cat has a good mouse trap. the mouse is working on a new route and we will see where that goes. But either way its not over and thats what makes it cat and mouse.

But anyone who mods a console knows the risks... its in the fw readme.
if you mod you should expect to get banned at some point. Dont wanna get wet, stay out of the rain.

[ThreeDog]

I just love the double standards we've seen in the last week its shown some true colours. :)

[sirxlaughs]

I don't get this. First MS says we did now we didn't. What ever all i know that millions more 360 got the Red Lights of Deaths so @#%^ MS!! A system that is great and garbage at the same time.

In the interview, Marc Whitten is claiming the report was fake. He said to look at the reports and check their source. He's saying Microsoft never gave out any such numbers.

[sirxlaughs]

Like I said, I think M$ has truly jumped the shark. There are literally no redeeming qualities to M$,,,,,none. I am still confused (and amused) as to why people keep buying their faulty, costly crapp. That part really has me boggled. I don't hack so a PS3 is just fine for me. After going through 4 360's (under warranty, just one switched out 3 times!) I cannot do business with these morons. The biggest, funniest thing is a little law called "loss of use." Nobody takes advantage of it. If we did, we'd be getting brand new, 360's and not refurbished ones. You can go to small claims to do it too. I did it to Sony and they sent me a brand new Bravia. I want to do it to M$ but my statute is out.

I'm confused (and amused) as well. Did you just start gaming? Did you own a PS1 or PS2? Why would people keep buying their faulty, costly crap? It has me boggled.

[xsam34]

In the interview, Marc Whitten is claiming the report was fake. He said to look at the reports and check their source. He's saying Microsoft never gave out any such numbers.

Didn't this site post something about MS confirming the bans.
http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=37858

Well like the American government idk who to believe anymore. Jebus save me!!!

[grapeape]

Didn't this site post something about MS confirming the bans.
http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=37858

Well like the American government idk who to believe anymore. Jebus save me!!!

Actually if you read the article that link to, it appears to be a number that was made up, the actual quotes from MS dont offer up any numbers.

[Neglefarot]

Again...XBOX360 VS PS3 topic. :rolleyes:

Bad billy, BAD!

Yesterday my wife gave me 2 xbox 360 elite as gift for christmas...2 consoles!:eek:, 13 new games and the rock band set...

but I dont like 360. :(

[richbambam360]

maybe M$ have actually seen that their bannings have done their name more harm & people not buying their consoles as much & buying PS3 instead,I mean anybody with not much knowledge of the Bannings is gonna think F**k that i'll buy a PS3 instead & thats not included consoles that they have banned already people going out & buying a PS3 to play online (I know over 10 recent banned console owners that have done this already ).
So they have to come out with more M$ bullshit next they will b saying it was only a few thousend consoles that only got banned

[MadonnaProject]

The whole "rough and tough" attitude towards your paying (and constantly diminishing) customers is coming back to bite you in the ass?

I think MS does not realised how far tarnished their image was with the rrod, e74, and other stuff, and now with no exclusives, no new big name titles and basically nothing to offer, on top of their pay to play online service, they have realised they have a huge publicity crisis on their hands.

I hope more people took this as a "final straw".

[MadonnaProject]

Again...XBOX360 VS PS3 topic. :rolleyes:

Bad billy, BAD!

Yesterday my wife gave me 2 xbox 360 elite as gift for christmas...2 consoles!:eek:, 13 new games and the rock band set...

but I dont like 360. :(

And we care about your wife why? Also did someone remind her its november? Must be a very smart lady.

[grapeape]

Where is this huge uptick in PS3 sales every fanboy seems to refer to? The game charts dont show much of a rise...actually they have been slowly declining after the surge from the release of the slim. I really think people here tend to overestimate the influence of pirates, the vast majority of people dont even know they can be modded. But lets assume that they really are that influential...if so MS should really advertise the hell out of the fact that they ran off cheaters and pirates and use it as a selling point to gamers that want a better unadulterated online experience (whether thats actually true or not).

But anyway I would imagine if every single pirate that got banned went to Sony, MS and its supporters would be thrilled...let someone else deal with them.

[msanchez]

I just love the double standards we've seen in the last week its shown some true colours. :)

Just last week? have you been purposefully ignoring the double standards before that?

Well it's hard for me to decide on this issue. On the one hand I don't believe pirates should get breaks as far as making things easy on them, but crippling consoles is not right either. It might be a roundabout way of doing things, but I believe that a console manufacturer should limit themselves to improving their security while not disrupting the pirates console... there's just something about them deciding to do these things to others' machines that is scary.

If you ask me this is even more worrying than having that whole having copies of games assigned to individual consoles. I mean what's next after that? they'll fry your TV as well?

[danight]

go look at recent wii updates... case closed!

[crono]

Whahahah M$ you scared??????

First bragging about how many console's you banned and then???? third party developers came asking questions like "HOW MANY CONSOLE'S BANNED??? IS PIRACI THAT BAD ON XBOX360!!! I WILL NEVER MAKE A GAME FOR IT AGAIN “then M$ say no no no ,not that much banning, just a few, yea... right.... :rolleyes:

[bennyb]

ive been xbox since they came out i got a ps3 the day that was released never played the ps3 1 game fiffa then i was banned i went and bought mw2 for the ps3 and iam not arsed about xbox anymore iam slowly being converted to ps3

[sirxlaughs]

Didn't this site post something about MS confirming the bans.
http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=37858

Well like the American government idk who to believe anymore. Jebus save me!!!

Where does Microsoft confirm it? Did you even read the article? Here's the quote:


"All consumers should know that piracy is illegal and that modifying their Xbox 360 console violates the Xbox Live terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from Xbox Live," Microsoft said in a statement Wednesday.

That doesn't translate to, "We've banned a million users." in Microsoft-ese.

[Jsameds]

How many did you ban? 999,000?

[Neglefarot]

And we care about your wife why? Also did someone remind her its november? Must be a very smart lady.

CARE? "you" dont have to care about even reading my post if you find it stupid (but not enough to comment)

And No, she´s just filthy rich...beacuse i earn a lot so we dont expect discount sales or coupons to get things.

Which in this case if i dont even like xbox what i mean is that i got not 1 but 2 too many for me

i have 2 studios so in this case we buy double.

please dont refer to my wife whit disrespect.

[ThreeDog]

Just last week? have you been purposefully ignoring the double standards before that?

Well it's hard for me to decide on this issue. On the one hand I don't believe pirates should get breaks as far as making things easy on them, but crippling consoles is not right either. It might be a roundabout way of doing things, but I believe that a console manufacturer should limit themselves to improving their security while not disrupting the pirates console... there's just something about them deciding to do these things to others' machines that is scary.

If you ask me this is even more worrying than having that whole having copies of games assigned to individual consoles. I mean what's next after that? they'll fry your TV as well?

You bring up a good point about where to draw the line but i still think there's a deeper plan here, Best guess MS did this incase someone figures out how to reverse the latest updates and use the HDD install feature to their benefit.

One thing that draws my attention is the steam terms of service and how they handle things https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=4044-QDHJ-5691. Bans are delayed, Are engine specific with strike 3 resulting in the loss of all your content.

I hate to say it but this looks like it will be standard practice for private networks. The risk will just increase until its no longer worth doing.

[msanchez]

...I hate to say it but this looks like it will be standard practice for private networks. The risk will just increase until its no longer worth doing.

Not totally a bad thing I guess. Games are overpriced, I won't even attempt to say otherwise, most devs keep pumping out crapness on a regular basis, we all know this is true, but even so, every once in a while a truly great game will not be as profitable for the dev as it should have been. Sure they won't have to sell their homes, or stop eating because of the loss, but still.

If we would stop buying craptastic games then maybe publishers/devs would get the point, but everytime I see an EA sports games leading in sales I realize this might just be impossible.